Deep south strikes
Studs in Cambridge, Matamata, Masterton and Wingatui had plenty to celebrate after the weekend’s super results.
Ghibellines (Shamardal), Per Incanto (Street Cry), Turn Me Loose (Iffraaj) and Savabeel (Zabeel) provided four of the five New Zealand–bred stakes winners and are proudly flying the flag. Especially pleasing are the results being achieved by two of our younger stallions, Ghibellines and Turn Me Loose.
Kiwi Chronicles spoke with White Robe Lodge’s Wayne Stewart regarding the decisive victory by Smokin’ Romans in the Turnbull Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m). He said: “Smokin’ Romans win added some sparkle to an average week. We’d had a few rough days with mares and foals but Saturday it all turned around. Just a fabulous result for the sire and the stud, as we bred him.
“He was a good looking foal and yearling. He had that English classic look. His dam, Inferno is by our Yamanin Vital and she has already been covered by Ghibellines. We have a yearling sister to Smokin’ Romans which we have retained, for obvious reasons.”
Stewart referenced the stud’s cross of Ghibellines over Yamanin Vital (Sir Tristram) mares. Yamanin Vital stood 12 full seasons at White Robe Lodge.
“Yamanin Vital twice broke two minutes for 2000 metres when racing in Japan. That tells you he was a fast stayer and at stud he upgraded his mares yet remains underrated,” continued Stewart. “The cross, Ghibellines over Yamanin Vital is proving very successful.”
Arion Pedigrees’ nicks report shows that the cross has produced 15 runners for 12 winners, a success rate of 80 per cent.
Both Ghibellines and Yamanin Vital were sourced by agent Michael Otto, whose list of stallion imports is impressive. “Ghibellines was a stunning looker when I was made aware of his being available for sale,” said Otto when speaking with Kiwi Chronicles, “and Yamanin Vital was a very good racehorse racing against tough opponents in Japan. Both stallions have done well and I am quite chuffed that I had a hand in bringing to them New Zealand. White Robe deserves the success. They are great people.”
Picking up the story, Stewart said: “Who knows what Ghibellines might have done if he’d raced on but he is beautifully bred and can throw two-year-olds and fast stayers. His female family is chock full of speed yet his grandam won the Queensland Derby.”
Ghibellines was kept to sprinting and was not tried as an older horse but his sire, Shamardal (Giant’s Causeway), scored in the Prix du Jockey Club (Gr 1, 2100m), France’s Derby.
“His bookings are way up this year as he has just continued where he left off last season, his best yet,” said Stewart. “We will keep doing what we do. Our focus is breeding sound racehorses as distinct from breeding for the sale ring. That is how we have always operated and it seems to work for us.”
Inferno was a dual winner of the Canterbury Gold Cup (Gr 3, 2000m), two of her ten wins and Smokin’ Romans will have no problem with the distance of the Caulfield Cup (Gr 1, 2400m) on October 15. He has track and distance winning form at Caulfield where his racing style, sitting handy to the pace (or leading, if need be), is a bonus.
Trainer Ciaron Maher has found the secret to “quirky” Smokin’ Romans and that is the beach which has settled him down. “Late last prep, we sent him down to the beach. He was always very quirky, so it was just to get him used to going on and off the float all the time,” Maher explained. “He’d lose it and lose a lot of weight just stressing. It desensitised him, and he’s carrying a lot more condition. He’s shown he’s in good form the whole way, and even when Ethan [Brown] jumped on, he said he’ll run a race today.”
Another bonus is the gelding’s assigned weight. “I think he drops to 51.5 kilograms for the Caulfield Cup now, which seems pretty nice,” said Maher. “I think Jamie Kah will ride him. He’s got the light weight and there’s only a few [riders can meet that weight], and I’d say she’d be pretty happy to get on after today.”
Good timing
New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale is fast approaching and on the back of a series of weekend highlights, both in Sydney and Melbourne, New Zealand breeders and vendors have sent a message. It’s not only stayers now, it’s the whole distance spectrum. We can do it all.
Horrid weather here meant that the week’s focus was on Australia. The weather also affected the sale, the breeze-up section at Te Rapa being pushed back two weeks to October 17 and 18. The sale date itself remains unchanged, scheduled for November 16 and 17.
The Kiwis’ focus landed five of the 18 stakes races and two of them are trained in New Zealand, namely Andrew Forsman’s She’s Licketysplit (Turn Me Loose) and Mr Maestro (Savabeel). Six of the 18 races contained no New Zealand-breds at all and a further five races contained just one, so their haul can be considered one of the better days in the industry’s history.
From the 1200 metres of the Premiere Stakes (Gr 2) up to the 2400 metres of Metropolitan Handicap (Gr 1), suggests that our biggest market, Australia, can look at all our stock, not just the stayers.
Two of the four Group 1s, the Turnbull Stakes and the Metropolitan are run at distances that the Kiwis relish. However, after the running of Randwick’s feature sprint, the Premiere Stakes, a better than live chance in the $15 million Everest (1200m) exists via Lost And Running (Per Incanto). Yes, we breed sprinters too.
Lost And Running was the only Kiwi-bred in the Premiere and the six-year-old is better placed this year to give The Everest a shake. His fourth last year was a bit of a surprise as his two lead up races were not indicative of his true ability.
His trainer, John O’Shea, made a keen observation last autumn, stating that the gelding was no longer “running downhill”, that his front end had finally caught up with his rump.
The second of his two autumn runs, the Newmarket Handicap (Gr 1, 1200m) was disappointing but all that is a distant memory after Saturday’s win, taking his record to nine from 16. Nature Strip (Nicconi) and Eduardo (Host) will see a different Lost And Running this time around.
And talking of Per Incanto (Street Cry), he also had just the sole New Zealand-bred in the Gilgai Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) at Flemington and Roch ‘N’ Horse gave a very good account of herself down Flemington’s straight six, where she caused a boilover in the Newmarket last March.
That win was no fluke and in three starts this spring the mare has shown she is close to winning again. She loves the straight course. We witnessed that when she ran champion New Zealand sprinter Levante (Proisir) to a nose in Trentham’s Telegraph Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) in January.
Roch ‘N’ Horse has winning form right-handed too, around Ellerslie, which begs the question: Could Roch ‘N’ Horse be a late invite to the big dance in Sydney? Two spots remain open but the Randwick track would need to improve dramatically by October 15. After her Newmarket win she floundered in the heavy conditions of TJ Smith Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m).
Not forgotten
Pins (Snippets) did Waikato Stud proud throughout 18 seasons in a long and successful stud career, siring 88 stakes winners, No Compromise’s desperate winning lunge in the Metropolitan Handicap bringing his tally of Group 1 winners to ten.
Except for Tommy Berry’s quick thinking it could have all gone wrong because he was pocketed at the 300 metres. Darting inwards at the 200 metres, Berry found a run three off the fence and drove into the lead at the 75 metres. Tenacious to the line, No Compromise was in a three way battle but got the bob in on the line.
“I was bolting coming to the corner, but when James [McDonald, on Le Don De Vie] shifted out in front of me, I thought it was all over,” said Berry. “He did an unbelievable job to pick himself up and get there.”
Winning trainer, Chris Waller, added: “This is a special win. He’s got a great family from New Zealand behind him. He’s been building up to this and has been a bit unlucky. He doesn’t like the really wet tracks. Today, even though it’s heavy, they’re getting through it better than they were in the autumn.”
No Compromise joins his half-sister, Tofane (Ocean Park) as a Group 1 winner, solidifying the record of their dam Baggy Green (Galileo) as the recent recipient of the New Zealand TBA Broodmare of the Year Award, a title she shared with Opulence (Danroad), the dam of Verry Elleegant (Zed).
Baker’s recipe
Andrew Forsman’s mentor and former partner, Murray Baker, is more than likely just as proud of his apprentice’s continuation of the stable’s success as he is of their joint efforts, especially after Forsman bagged two of the nine stakes races on the Flemington card.
During the winding down of his career, Baker stated that winning in Australia is knowing the right type of horse to campaign there and Forsman appears to have taken that knowledge on board.
Known for her sheer determination in tight finishes, She’s Licketysplit added win four from just six starts without having to dig deep. Fourth at the halfway mark in the Edward Manifold Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m), she moved out a lane upon straightening then cruised into the lead with a sprint and took control at the 200 metres. A brief challenge appeared on her inner but she rallied strongly and came away near the line.
Interestingly, starting in the race was an afterthought. “This race today wasn’t actually in our original planning and I thought we might just give her a jump–out on Friday with the blinkers on to give her a feel for them,” said Forsman. “When I saw just how well she came through that first race we changed the plan as this was on our back doorstep.”
“The best thing is that she is improving all the time and Damian [Lane, jockey] did say that she just feels better and better every time he sits on her. She’s a Group 2 winner in Australia now which is fantastic,” said Forsman.
The filly’s main aim is Caulfield’s Thousand Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m). Her sire won Caulfield’s Futurity Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) and it would be fitting for Turn Me Loose (Iffraaj) to also get his first Australian Group 1 winner there.
The stable was to enjoy further success in the last race on the card, with Mr Maestro (Savabeel) racing away with the Super Impose Stakes (Listed, 1800m).
Bringing up stakes winner number 127 for his sire Savabeel (Zabeel), Mr Maestro was backing up from a last-start win in the Derby Preview (1800m).
Given a lovely ride by Damian Lane, Mr Maestro sat fourth into the straight then broke clear at the 200 metres and trotted in. Lane commented: “It was a solid clip throughout, and as the leaders started to get a little tired, he just towed me into the race and was travelling so well turning for home.”
Lane marvelled at the improvement the gelding has shown since his first race at Sandown in August while Forsman made it clear that it is his assistant who can take a bow for the horse’s improvement and form. “Aoife Brennan is here in Melbourne, she’s done a magnificent job, she’s been here the whole time, I’ve only been backwards and forwards, so she’s done all the hard work and a lot of the credit goes to her,” he said.
There is no doubt that Savabeel can get Derby winners. He has two including Sangster, winner of the Victoria Derby, along with four Oaks winners. Additionally, Mr Maestro’s distaff pedigree suggests that the Victoria Derby (Gr 1, 2500m) is right in his ball-park as his dam, Let Me Roar (Rip Van Winkle), a Group 2 placed winner of six races, is a half-sister to the 2010 Victoria Derby winner Lion Tamer (Storming Home).
Giving and receiving
The Cambridge Stud Lindsays, Brendan and Jo, have provided a massive boost to our industry since taking over the stud from Sir Patrick Hogan. Their investment has been significant, not just in buying the stud, ensuring it stayed in New Zealand hands, but also investing in quality bloodstock.
They were again at the sharp end last week, shelling out $1.1 million for Amarelinha (Savabeel). Therefore, it was gratifying to see their Excelida (Exceed And Excel) break through for her maiden stakes success in the Rose Of Kingston Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m).
The winner’s purse may have been a lot less than their recent outlay in terms of dollars, but in terms of value Excelida’s has swollen well over and above her $579,725 in stake earnings.
“That was just a great result,” said co-trainer Ben Hayes. “This one’s been placed in so many stakes races and was yet to win one, so for her to win this for Cambridge Stud – Brendan and Jo Lindsay and Henry Plumptre – it’s just a big thrill. They were very patient, they allowed her to stay in training and it was great to get that result for them.”
Excelida represents one of New Zealand’s most desirable families tracing to Hunza (Pakistan II), the dam of Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Courtza (Pompeii Court) who is, in turn, the dam of Waikato Stud’s champion sire O’Reilly (Last Tycoon).
Eastern Princess (Pompeii Court), Excelida’s third dam, ranks as a three-quarter sister to Courtza. Excelida’s dam, Lady Sayyida, (Iffraaj) is a half-sister to Ocean Park (Thorn Park), another Waikato Stud stallion and, like barn-mate Savabeel, a Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m) winner.
Dual Group 1 winner Grunt (O’Reilly) is from Ruqqaya (Van Nistelrooy) as is Group 2 Flemington winner Zayydani (Savabeel). Ruqqaya and Excelida’s dam Lady Sayyida (Iffraaj), are half-sisters.
Hunza was NZ Broodmare of the Year in 1989 while her great granddaughter Sayyida (Zabeel) achieved the same honour in 2013.
This is a quality family, through and through and the best part about Excelida’s Flemington stakes win is that the mare will find her way to Cambridge Stud along with Amarelinha and it’s these top mares’ progeny that bring buyers to the sales.